Published: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 30, 2013 at 10:46 p.m.

Much has been made around Ole Miss country the last two days of how much University of Alabama associate director of player personnel Tyler Siskey assisted in the Crimson Tide’s 25-0 win over the Rebels on Saturday night.

At issue with Ole Miss fans is whether Siskey, a noncoaching staff member, was “coaching” during Saturday’s game. Siskey was shown on the ESPN broadcast in the coaches box with a pair of binoculars. It should be noted that noncoaching staff members are allowed in the coaches box.

Siskey served on Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze’s staff as coordinator of recruiting development in 2012 and was hired by UA coach Nick Saban in March to serve in a similar capacity.

As spelled out in NCAA Bylaw 11.7, Siskey does not fall within the designation of a coach and therefore is not permitted to “coach” during practice or games.

Saban came to Siskey’s defense when asked about how common it is for noncoaching personnel to help with game plans.

“He didn’t really assist in the game plan, and he wasn’t on a headset,” Saban said. “He didn’t talk to anybody during the game. I don’t know if there’s any rule that says he can’t go into the press box and watch the games. And he wasn’t in any different position than he’s ever been in a game.”

During his Monday press conference, Freeze was asked if he planned to contact the Southeastern Conference office about the incident.

“I have no idea what he exactly did,” Freeze said. “Our administration is great. Alabama has great administration, too, and I don’t think that for one minute that Nick would put himself or his program at risk by doing something.

“... I don’t want to get involved in something like that. They beat us, they lined up and beat us. I’m ready to move on to Auburn.”

The SEC had no comment on the matter when contacted by The Tuscaloosa News.

Siskey appeared to be attempting to steal Ole Miss signs, a common practice in college football. How much that might have helped UA defensive coordinator Kirby Smart during the game is unknown, but the practicality of attempting to decode signs at the speed Ole Miss runs its offense is debatable.

Saban said Siskey was valuable in helping limit the Rebels — in the offseason.

“The benefit that we have was in the offseason when we do studies of offseason opponents and how we would try to defend what they do, was to have somebody on our staff here that understood what the other team was doing.” Saban said. “You can learn some things that maybe you wouldn’t be able to pick up in preparation in terms of how you defend and what you try to do by understanding their offense a little bit better.

“If there was an advantage to it, that was it. It was nothing that happened in the game, and it was really nothing that happened in the game plan. Tyler does a good job for us in the role that he does here in recruiting. That’s a full-time job for him, and that’s what he does a good job at.”

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.

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